Chair or like article



Aug. 17, 1937. A. u. WALTER CHAIR OR LIKE ARTICLE Filed April 20, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet l Inventor: @je'r ZZWaZar, 277W )fg/ Aug. 17, 1937. A. u.WALTER 2,090,562

CHAIR OR LIKE ARTICLE Filed April 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedAug. 17, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIR R LIKE ARTICLE Albert U.Walter, Baltimore, Md. Application April 2o, 1935, serial No. 17,522soiaims. (014554182) This invention relates to chairs and like articlesand is more particularly concerned with such an article including partswhich may be folded with respect to one another for ease of storage andfor protection against the elements and against soiling.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of such anarticle comprised of a. frame structure and seat and back portions,

l0 the seat and back portions being foldable and/or removable andreplaceable.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of such anarticle composed of a folding frame and foldable seat and back members.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of such anarticle including a rigid and self-supporting frame and seat and backportions which may be folded or collapsed with respect to one anotherand supported and protected upon the frame structure.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of anarticle of this type which includes a rigid frame, a stiff seat member,and 2 a exible back member, the back member ope'rating as a support forthe seat member.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision ofsuch an article including a. rigid and self-supporting frame, a stiffseat 30 member, and a exible back member which can be connected to theframe and to the seat member for supporting the latter, and can bedetached therefrom for cleaning or replacement.

With these and other features, the article 35 provides a comfortablesupport for the sitting occupant, and assures that the parts which maybe deteriorated by atmospheric or other conditions may be protectedagainst the same so that a clean and dry support may be quickly prewpared for the occupant.

With these and other features as objects in view, as willappear in thecourse of the following specification and claims, illustrative forms ofpracticing the invention are shown on 5 the accompanying drawings, inwhich:-

Fig. l is a front elevation of the invention as applied to a chair.

Fig. 2 is an upright sectional View of the same substantially on line2-2 of Fig. 1.

u Fig. 3 is an elevational View, partly broken away, corresponding tothe upper portion of Fig. l but on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is an upright sectional View substantially on line II--4 of Fig.3.

55 Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views of the clip assembly employed forthe frame in this illustrative form.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary View corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2, butshowing a modified ar rangement of the back and seat structures.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 4, the frame is comprisedof two side members and two rails. Each side member includes a sideframe formed'from a single bar of metal which is bent to form a lowerloop. This loop includes an upper section I0 providing an arm rest andjoined by a front curve II to a front leg section l2, which is in turnjoined by a curve I3 to the base or support section I4, and this in turnby a curve I5 with the rear leg section I6. The rear end of the arm restsection I0 is connected rigidly, as by a weld II, to the rear legsection I6. Above the arm rest section I0, the free end of this bar ofmetal is bent slightly backward at I8 so that its upwardly extending endI9 is at an angle to the vertical. Each side member also includes a pairof clips 20, one of these clips being located at an appropriate heightof the front leg section I2 and the other being located adjacent theupper end of the back section I9.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each of these clips is illustrated ascomprising a folded sheet metal piece 2| which is of U-shape inhorizontal section, the space between the arms of the U corresponding tothe size of the metal bar whose section I2 or I9 is located within thesheet metal piece and is secured thereto by rivets 22. The depth of theU is appropriately chosen so that the depending or downwardly directedend 23 of a rail member 24 or 25 is tightly received there- It will benoted that the two side members for a chair are made symmetrically, inthis illustrated form, with the clips turned toward one another (Fig.l). The rail 24 joining the clips 20 on the front leg sections I2 of thetwo side members provides a front rail, and the rail 25 joining theclips 20 adjacent the upper ends of the back sections I9 of the sidemembers provides a back top rail. It will be noted that the rails may beremoved from the clips, so that the two side members may be broughttogether for storing the device within a small space.

A stiff seat of ply wood or metal is supported at its front edge by thefront rail 24.

Where the back top rail 25 is removable as in the illustrated form, aflexible member, having a back portion 3|, may have a simple hem 32formed at its upper end for surrounding the back top rail- 25. 'I'hisexible member may be of heavy cloth such as duck, and the hem formed inthe usual way by sewing. The depth of the hem is sufllcient so that theback top rail 25 may be threaded therethrough. This flexible memberextends downward from the back top rail (when the parts are in positionfor occupation) and passes beneath the rear edge of the seat member 30.In the form shown in Fig. 2, the flexible member includes a section 33extending forwardly beneath the seat member 30 and then bent upwardlyaround the front rail 24 and the front edge of the seat, a portion 34extending over the top of the seat member 30, and a small edge portion35 extending under the rear edge of the seat member 30. This portion 35in Fig. 2 is connected to the seat member 30, illustratively byglove-type fasteners 36 so that the flexible member may be separatedeasily from the seat member 30. It will be noted that the rear edge ofthe seat member 30 is below the front rail 24 and in front of the backtop rail 25, so that the seat tends to assume the position shown,particularly when occupied; and to maintain the flexible member taut.This tautness, at the bight between the portions 33 and 34, and theengagement of the back portion 3| with the seat structure at its rearedge, prevent the front edge of the seat member from moving backward andslipping off the front rail. Furthermore, the frictional engagement ofthe flexible member with the front rail, and the engagement of themutually contacting portions of this flexible member, at the rear edgeof they seat, is effective for relieving excessive strain at thefastenings 36.

It will be noted that the seat member 30 with the sections 34 and 35 ofthe flexible member are loose with respect to the sections 3| and 33 ofthe flexible member at the rear edge of the seat.

When it is desired, as in case of impending rain, or for storageunoccupied but in exposed position, to fold the parts for protection,the seat member 30 with the section 34 of the flexible member may berocked forwardly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, and slippedaround and rearwardly under the front rail 24, and the structurecomprising the flexible member and the seat member are folded together,utilizing the seat member 30 as a folding board, and supporting theparts in folded position substantially in the plane of the back assemblycomprising the sections I9 of the side frames and the top rail 24. Anenvelope 40 (Figs. 3 and 4) may then be slipped over the assembly andthe folded seat and flexible members to protect the same. 'I'hisenvelope may likewise be of heavy cloth such as duck and is preferablywaterproof. It will be noted that its lower edge (Figs. 3 and 4) extendsbelow the seat and back structures when thus folded. In this foldedposition of the parts, the metal and the envelope only are exposed, andit will be noted that no rain damage can occur, nor can birds sitting onany of the parts soil the seat or back portions.

'I'he parts may be readily re-assembled by raising the envelope or cover40 and permitting and effecting unwinding of the folded seat andflexible members, bringing the seat member 30 with the section 34 of theflexible member forwardly beneath and then backwardly over the frontrail 24, and resting these structures upon the remainder of the flexiblemember. 'Ihe parts, even by their own weight, tend to assume a propervposition, and the weight of the occupant immediately brings them intothe 4position as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this position, it will benoted that the construction and arrangement of the several parts causesthe section 3| of the flexible memberto be located substantially in thesame plane as the sections I9 of the side frames, so that these sectionsoperate in compression, and very slight bending stresses are placedthereon. Hence, the Ymetal for the side frames need not be excessivelyheavy.

It will be noted that the stiff seat 3|) protects the occupant so thatthere is no major portion of the occupants weight placed upon the frontrail in contact with the under side of the thighs, as occurs with anarticle of this type having a flexible member providing both seat andback; and that there is no bar or like member, in this illustrated form,which may be contacted by the back of the occupant.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7, the flexible member is shorter andincludes the back portion 3|a. having its lower end section 35a turnedbeneath the rear edge of the seat member 30a and secured thereto. Inthis form, there is a greater strain at the fasteningmeans which arehere illustrated as tacks 36a, and hence it is preferred to employ agreater number of such tacks than the number of glove-fasteners 36 whichare sufficient in the form of Fig. 2.

In the form of Fig. '7, forward and rearward movement of the seat member30a is prevented by engaging means located beneath the front edgethereof. 'I'hese engaging means are illustrated as comprising aplurality of clips formed of metal and bent into a substantially Ushape, with one of the arms vof the U bearing against and secured to theseat member 30a adjacent its front edge and embracing the front face ofthe rail 24, this secured arm also including a downwardly extendingfinger piecel46 for engaging the rear surface of the front rail 24.Thus, forward and backward movements of the seat member 30a areprevented, it being preferred to have the spacing between the forwardand rear fingers of each clip 45 less than the corresponding dimensionof the front rail 24; for example in Fig. 7, the front rail 24 is squarein crosssection and the spacing between these fingers is less than thediagonal dimension of the front rail 24. In order to remove the seat 30afrom the front rail 24, it is rocked upwardly to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. '7, so that the opening or gap between thefingers is aligned with the front rail 24, these'fingers being thusoutside of the bounding planes of the top and lower surfaces of thefront rail; and the seat 30a may then be disengaged easily by a simpleforward movement. It may then be rocked upwardly and back about thepoint of engagement of its rear edge with the flexible member, and thusfolded as in the other form with the back portion 3| a of this flexiblemember for housing within an envelope 40 as before.

It is obvious that the invention may be modified in other ways, and maybe employed for other than chairs, without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a frame having a front railand a back assembly including a releasable back top rail, a stiff seatmember, a flexible member including a portion attached to said seatmember and a hem surrounding said back top rail, said flexible memberoperating for supporting the rear edge of the seat member from the backtop rail, the seat member with the flexible member attached theretobeing separable from the front rail and said members including partsreleasably engaged with the front rail for preventing forward andrearward movement of the occupied seat member relative to said rail,said members then being foldable together while said hem remains aroundthe back top rail and the back assembly remains connected whereby thefolded members may be brought into a position in the plane of the backassembly, and means for supporting the folded 7 members substantially insuch position.

' the seat member and around the front rail and thence rearwardly overthe upper surface of the seat member and thereby maintaining the frontedge of the seat member upon the front rail, said members being readilyremovable from engagement with the front rail without change of theframe so that the seat member and flexible member may be folded togetherand brought into the plane of the back assembly, and cover meanssupported by the back assembly and extending over the same and aroundthe folded members to hold the latter in folded condition. l

3. A device of the type described comprising a frame having a front railand a back assembly including a back top rail, a stiff seat member,detachable devices adjacent the front edge of the seat member formaintaining the seat member against forward and backward movementrelative to the front rail, and a flexible member providing a backportion and connected at one end to the back top rail and at the otherend to said seat member for supporting the rear edge of said seat memberfrom said back top rail, said seat member upon detachment from the frontrail being foldable with the flexible member into a positionsubstantially in the plane of the back assembly, and cover meanssupported by the back assembly and extending over the same and aroundthe folded members to hold the latter in folded condition.

4. A device as in claim 3, in which the said engaging devices comprisefingers effective for embracing the front rail when the seat is inposition for occupation, the fingers being disengageable therefrom byrocking' of the seat member upwardly at its rear edge, so that theengaging devices may thereupon be released from the front rail.

5. A device of the type described comprising a frame having a front railand a back assembly including a back top rail, the upper portion of saidback assembly being located at an angle to the vertical, a stiff seatmember detachably supported at its front edge from the front rail, and aflexible member connected at one end to the back top rail and connectedat the other end to the seat member and engaging the seat member at therear edge thereof, the flexible member extending from the back top railto the rear edge of the occupied seat substantally in the plane of theinclined upper portion of the back assembly, said seat andfiexible'member constituting a structure removable from the front railand including parts releasably engaged with the front rail forpreventing forward and rearward movement of the seat relative to thefront rail, said members being readily removable from engagement withthe front rail without change of the frame so that the seat member andexible member may be folded together and brought into the plane of theback assembly, and means supported by the back assembly and extendingover the same and around the folded members for holding the same infolded condition and for protecting the same against rain and soiling.

6. A device of the type described, comprising a frame includinga backtop rail, and also including seat supporting means at the front of theframe; a seat and back structure comprising a stii seat member and a.flexible member, said flexible member being attached at one end to theback top rail and attached at the other end adjacent the rear edge ofthe seat member, said structure including means releasabl-y engaged withsaid seat supporting means for preventing rearward movement of theoccupied seat member relative to the frame, said structure being readilyremovable from engagement with said seat supporting means so that theseat member and ilexible member may be folded together and brought intothe plane of the back assembly; and means supported by the frame andextending over the back top rail and the folded members for holding thelatter in folded condition and for protecting the same against rain andsoiling.

7. A device of the type described, comprising a frame having a frontrail and a back assembly including a back top rail, a stiff seat memberdetachably supported at its edge from the front rail, a flexible memberproviding first means attached to said back top rail and a dependingportion including second means attached to said seat member, saiddepending portion of the flexible member operating as a support for therear edge of the seat member, said seat member and depending portionbeing separable as a unit from the front rail and being foldabletogether while said first means remains attached to the back top rail sothat the folded members may be brought into the plane of the backassembly without change of said frame; and a cover means extending overthe upper portion of the back assembly and the folded members forsupporting and protecting the folded members in the plane of the backassembly.

8. A device of the type described comprising a frame having a front railand a back assembly including a back top rail; a seat and back structurcomprised of a stiff seat member and a flexible member, said flexiblemember being attached at one end to the back top rail and attached atthe other end adjacent the rear edge of the seat member, said structureincluding means releasably engaged with the front rail for preventingrearward movement of the occupied seat member relative to the frontrail, said structure being readily removable from engagement with thefront rail without change of the frame so that the seat may be foldedtogether and brought into the plane of the back assembly; and covermeans extending over and supported by the upper portion of the backassembly and the folded member for -holding the latter in `foldedcondition and for protecting .the same against rain and soiling.

ALBERT U. WALTER.

